Paul-André Fortier

Paul-André Fortier (; born 30 April 1948) is a Canadian choreographer and dancer living in Montreal. He is a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement.

Early life and training

Fortier was born in Waterville, Quebec, in Canada. His career as a dancer started in 1973 with Groupe Nouvelle Aire in Montreal and trained choreographers Edouard Lock, Ginette Laurin, and Daniel Léveillé. His next creations were Pow !…t’es mort (1982), Ça ne saigne jamais… (1983), Chaleurs (1985), Le Mythe décisif (1987) and Désert (1989). Gradually, Fortier's works slipped from the "narrative into the abstract" leaving "the way open to multiple interpretations, giving the viewer free to his feelings".

In 1986 Fortier and Daniel Jackson founded Montréal Danse to create new works by other choreographers. They featured the work of Françoise Sullivan, James Kudelka and Fortier himself. He resigned as co-artistic director in 1989 but continued to choreograph for the company.

Teacher and choreographer

In 1989 Fortier joined the faculty of dance at Université du Québec à Montréal. He also created dance solos for himself by reactivating his old dance company Fortier-Danse Création. As a solo artist, he created the trilogy Les Males Heures (1989), La Tentation de la transparence (1991), and Bras de Plomb (1993), the latter two created with the collaboration of Betty Goodwin.

In addition to choreographing, Fortier was a dance consultant for the Canada Council from 1993 to 1995. He was also president of Regroupement Québecois de la danse. and an appointment to the Order of Canada. In 2013, he received a Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec career grant. In 2013, Fortier joined the board of directors of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation as co-chair.

Honours 1993 : Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Choreography 1981 : Prix Jean A. Chalmer 2009 : Appointed Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by la République Française 2012 : Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement 2012 : Appointed to the Order of Canada 2013 : A career grant from the Conseil des Arts er des Lettres du Québec

Works

2012 : Vertiges 2011 : Box, l'homme au carton, Bras de plomb(revival) 2008 : Cabane, Spirale 2007 : -20° 2004 : Lumière 2003 : Risque, Sparks 2002 : Excès 2001 : Tensions, MVTS 2000 : Loin, très loin 1998 : Jeux de fous 1996 : La part des anges, Entre la mémoire et l'oubli, Tête d'ange 1995 : Novembre 1993 : Bras de plomb, Double silence 1991 : La tentation de la transparence, Lost, Plein le coeur 1989 : Les males heures, L'été latent, Désert 1987 : O-Pé-Ra Savon, Sans titre et qui le restera, Le mythe décisif, Tell 1986 : Brûler 1985 : Chaleur 1984 : Venus 84, Assis soient-ils 1983 : Gravitation, Ça ne saigne jamais… 1982 : Non coupable, Moi King Kong, Lavabos, Pow!... T'es mort 1981 : Fin, Bande dessinée 1980 : Violence 1979 : Parlez-moi donc du cul de mon enfance, Rêve 1 1978 : Images noires, Derrière la porte un mur